Nice will host The Ocean Race Europe for the first time this August, bringing high-tech IMOCA boats to the French Riviera. The prestigious sailing competition combines environmental initiatives with ocean data collection while offering a unique opportunity for the French Riviera to engage with the offshore racing community.
The Ocean Race Europe is a yacht race held every three to four years since 1973 and is one of the three major events on The Ocean Race calendar for the next three years. Originally named after its initial sponsor, the ‘Whitbread Round the World Race’ was renamed in 2001 the ‘Volvo Ocean Race’ after Swedish automobile manufacturer Volvo became its sponsor, before finally becoming The Ocean Race in 2019.
This year, the race will stretch from the Baltic Sea, through the North Sea and English Channel, into the Atlantic Ocean, the Mediterranean – which includes Nice this year – and wrapping up with the final in the Adriatic Sea.
“France is a fundamental anchor for many IMOCA (International Monohull Open Class Association) navigators and teams, but attention has traditionally been focused on the Atlantic coast. It is therefore absolutely exciting for us to highlight sailors, teams and this sport in one of the country’s iconic maritime territories,” said Phil Lawrence, Race Director of The Ocean Race.
Racing boats will feature the newest generation of high-tech IMOCA boats, first designed by Lauriot-Prevost and Verdier and assembled by CDK technologies based in Lorient France, that foil above water at record-breaking speeds. Each boat, will carry four sailors and an on-board reporter responsible for broadcasting live images and footage to race headquarters via satellite from the middle of the ocean. In support of diversity, at least one crew member must be female and at least two nationalities must be represented.
Connecting with environmental initiatives
Organised under the emblem ‘Connecting Europe’, The Ocean Race Europe actively supports the European Union’s mission by mobilising citizens and local communities in the protection and restoration of ocean health. This commitment to European unity and environmental stewardship is reflected in the race’s route connecting multiple coastal cities.
The stopover in Nice was inspired by the United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC 3), also hosted in Nice this year from 9th to 13th June, which aims to mobilise all actors committed to the protection of the Ocean. Supporting this focus on ocean health, the race includes a robust science program and will be collecting water sampling data during the race for international scientists.
Christian Estrosi, Mayor of Nice, commented on the Nice stop-over: “While the City of Nice has just launched its Year of the Sea and is preparing to receive, in June, the 3rd United Nations Conference on the Ocean, I am very happy to welcome, for the first time, The Ocean Race Europe, a sailing race that values team spirit, connects European ports and collects valuable scientific data for researchers. This Nice stage will offer the public a magnificent show, and the participants – the enchanting setting of our Baie des Anges. Nice, thus, confirms its ability to host large-scale events and its desire to enhance all initiatives aimed at sustainably preserving our oceans.”
Adding to the ocean initiative, the teams are required to generate at least 30% of the energy used on board during its race from renewable energy sources.
The race route
The Ocean Race Europe will begin on Sunday 10th August in Kiel, Germany, with the IMOCA fleet racing through the Baltic Sea, the North Sea and the English Channel before entering the Mediterranean towards Spain. The Nice stopover will be held 29th to 31st August, before the fleet continues to Italy and wraps up with the grand final in the Adriatic Sea, in Montenegro, from 15th to 21st September.
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